Bombs To Bureaucracy: New Chief Is Adjusting

December 6, 1998|By Joe Van Leer Sentinel Correspondent

CASSELBERRY - The city's new police chief, Martin LaBrusciano, is used to dodging bullets and disabling bombs after 25 years with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. But can a man used to action adjust to more sedentary work?

``It's just swapping different types of mental anxieties,'' said LaBrusciano, 47, of Geneva. ``Being police chief presents more intense mind work because I have to focus on an entire department with 80-some people and a city government.''

LaBrusciano assumed his post Nov. 16, taking over for Durbin Gatch, who retired after eight years as Casselberry's police chief.

LaBrusciano was deputy director of the Diversified Investigative Services Division in the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. His job included managing a multi-agency Special Weapons and Tactics team and bomb disposal team.

In July, LaBrusciano was leading a SWAT team during a 13-hour standoff and shootout in Geneva in which Deputy Eugene Gregory was killed by Alan Singletary.

Singletary was eventually shot and killed by officers.

``I had bullet holes in my shield. I knew I was being shot at but didn't put the full extent of danger into context until it was over,'' LaBrusciano said. ``The greatest fear is losing a comrade.''

Then there were the seven pipe bombs a body-armored LaBrusciano disabled on the east side of the county in the mid-'80s with about two minutes on the timer.

LaBrusciano said he plans to survey Casselberry residents to find out their expectations of the Police Department. After that, an internal assessment of the department will be done to determine whether services are ``effectively optimized.''

``So far, the department is going well, but we shouldn't get complacent,'' he said.

The police chief said he is a supporter of community policing if it is tailored to the specific needs of a community.

``What works in one community may not in Casselberry, and we need citizen input for it to work.''

LaBrusciano commends his predecessor Gatch, who was with the department for 25 years.

``I can't mimic his style. My goal is to use our resources, including the talent and good attitudes in this department, to protect the public. I want employee input and will give them more autonomy, but that comes with more responsibility.''

LaBrusciano said the department is a ``little short-handed'' but services are not hindered.

``Before hiring more people, we should maximize our potential, which will be a part of the assessment process,'' he said.

Most of Casselberry's police calls are for domestic violence and traffic cases. LaBrusciano wants to minimize those incidents.

He said road improvements such as the widening of U.S. Highway 17-92 may help ease traffic problems in the city. To help reduce domestic violence, LaBrusciano said it's important to identify root causes, such as drugs, alcohol and financial worries.

``We could act as facilitators and refer troubled couples to counseling services or money management advisers,'' he said.

Another sensitive issue is the referendum voters passed Nov. 3 to ban nudity in adult-entertainment clubs that sell alcohol. The city will most likely enact legislation supporting the voters' wishes. However, some people have expressed concerns that officers will too much time policing clubs and not enough time on the streets.

``Our job is to ensure public safety by enforcing city laws, but we shouldn't target the clubs. We have to be sensitive to community concerns without losing integrity and standards. I won't tolerate officers enforcing or ignoring laws to further their own personal agendas.''

LaBrusciano's annual salary is $61,000. He graduated from Rollins College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and from the FBI National Academy.

LaBrusciano and his wife, Vicki, have four children. LaBrusciano unwinds by fishing, hunting and making bows and arrows.